General Discussion

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

20. The protests at the docks are trying to point out the fact that dock workers

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 12:56 PM

Dec 2011

are often classified as independent contractors. The truckers have some sort of sham purchase of the truck they run -- I don't know whether it is a lease, but it is something of a sham. Because they are independent contractors, they do not have the rights of employees -- although they really are employees.

Sometimes they are not allowed to join a union -- because they don't qualify as employees.

They can sit around for long periods of time and not collect any pay.

Yet their pay is in many cases barely enough to live on.

The truckers can't strike openly because they will lose their jobs, but their working conditions are just a great example of what is wrong in the American workplace today.

Besides -- what are they doing? They carry some of our products to the ports, but mostly they transport stuff we buy from other countries and should be producing ourselves.

We need to stop and ask why the multinational companies are still importing so much cheap, slave-labor-made junk into our country when so many Americans are out of work? How do we adjust our tax system and reform our society so that Americans have work and the opportunity to earn a decent living.

The international business done at our ports is a big problem for us. As a nation, we simply cannot afford to import more than we export at this time when we supposedly owe so much money.

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Highlight:

OWS' need to connect...and how? [View all] FirstLight Dec 2011 OP

"OWS tactics are hurting the message" FirstLight Dec 2011 #1

It's not a "meme," it's the facts. TheWraith Dec 2011 #2

It's a "même" reinforced by "the facts". After that it's all a matter of confirmation bias. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #5

That works the opposite way, too. TheWraith Dec 2011 #25

I thought that was implied. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #27

"The Facts" is a meme bigmonkey Dec 2011 #23

No, it's called objective reality. TheWraith Dec 2011 #26

The mere facts in the study you cite don't support your opinion as "fact". bigmonkey Dec 2011 #31

Practically anything that screws up traffic is worthy. dkf Dec 2011 #3

OWS IS connecting pinboy3niner Dec 2011 #4

Very good. Thanks! Luminous Animal Dec 2011 #33

very powerfull piece. Thanks for posting it. applegrove Dec 2011 #38

Your concern is duly noted. Edweird Dec 2011 #6

++. backscatter712 Dec 2011 #28

seriously? FirstLight Dec 2011 #7

Precisely why I usually just read these leftynyc Dec 2011 #8

Time is what the movement has on its side mmonk Dec 2011 #9

thanks FirstLight Dec 2011 #10

They recognize some problems by the symptoms mmonk Dec 2011 #14

Here's another one of my pie-in-the-sky ideas.... OneGrassRoot Dec 2011 #12

That would be nice and I share such a dream. mmonk Dec 2011 #15

hehe FirstLight Dec 2011 #18

Invite them to attend a local General Assembly. I can almost 100% guarantee coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #11

exactly FirstLight Dec 2011 #16

there was a story on the radio yesterday about how Occupy Portland closed down some port terminals renate Dec 2011 #13

Victories are seldom won without sacrifice and a willingness to fight for better. mmonk Dec 2011 #17

The protests at the docks are trying to point out the fact that dock workers JDPriestly Dec 2011 #20

This is a recipe for self-marginalization. bigmonkey Dec 2011 #24

Two points nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #32

No, when they're told to stay home for safety or health reasons, Remember Me Dec 2011 #37

When someone says that OWS is using the wrong tactics, just ask the person what tactics JDPriestly Dec 2011 #19

BEAUTIFULLY SAID!!!!! FirstLight Dec 2011 #21

+1 AntiFascist Dec 2011 #30

Need to narrow the focus to one issue NNN0LHI Dec 2011 #22

Part of this is the very conservative, elite driven, media. nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #29

Do you really think the media controls how DUers think? randome Dec 2011 #34

Actually to a point yes nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #35

that and thought generally needs a sort of factual "canvas" to work upon themadstork Dec 2011 #43

Exactly nadinbrzezinski Dec 2011 #44

I think the OWS movement started out right mvd Dec 2011 #36

The civil rights movement got the same type of commentary...in the beginning. U4ikLefty Dec 2011 #39

thanks, good to hear FirstLight Dec 2011 #41

The great development here in Occupy LA U4ikLefty Dec 2011 #46

... FirstLight Dec 2011 #47

Not neccessarily a bad thing themadstork Dec 2011 #40

last sentence FirstLight Dec 2011 #42

I wonder about the same thing every day. themadstork Dec 2011 #45

.. mdmc Feb 2012 #48